Jason KingHarry Potter and the Half Blood Prince ($8-)
July 15th 2009 10:44
:
It is WOEFUL
Category: No Category
I consider myself a die hard Harry Potter fan. I own all the books, I own all the DVD's on Blu Ray and normal DVD. I used to take days off when the books came out and seal myself off from the world with take away menus, bottles of wine and phone OFF - I would then not leave until I had read cover to cover. I also bought an official replica of Harry's wand (no jokes here people) and it is one of my most prized posessions. I have been promoting this film since the trailer came out last year, I have also been texting Steve, my partner in viewing, all week giving him the countdown to our screening time and I have warned people I may squeal with delight in this film. I even spoke to a staff member prior to viewing who said he would be looking forward to reading my review after I came out - my quote to him "I can give you the score now - it's a Harry film and it will be about $17-"
But I walked out of the cinema without squeals, without even crying once for Harry and the crew (I cry alot in films) but wanting to cry at how someone could let this utter trash be made in the name of what I consider the best film franchise ever made.
I need to blame someone to make myself feel better and I can't blame the director (although he is utterly responsible for it coming together) as he directed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which I consider the best film in the franchise. He is also direcitng the last two Harry Potters so I must maintain faith. The screenplay was written by Steve Kloves and my blame is going to him. He has written the screenplays for every Potter film excluding The Order of the Phoenix, that one was way more punchier, dark and incredibly sharp. I am blaming his decline in writing skills and considering that maybe he was so pissed off with not doing Phoenix that he sabotaged this one. I know - I am becoming mentally unstable after seeing this - I could not believe it possible to ruin a Harry Potter film.
I am sure 90% of you have read the books and let me ask you this.... with the ending in The Half Blood Prince being so pivotal to the entire franchise why would you change it so badly. They decided for NO action in the last sequence AT ALL but made up a scene out of thin air for a bit of minor pointless action in the middle of the film. This book is much shorter than some of the others. Phoenix was the largest book and they managed to adapt that one superbly, this one being shorter could have been done so much better. A lot of the book and Dumbledore's travels are missing - AWOL. They decided to ensure the things that happened at the school were placed in. Most of it the romances blossoming between all the leads. Ron had to get his first Quidditch match in there, but why was the playing field barren. Sure, I understand the decline of society with the doom of Death Eaters appearing everywhere but Hogwarts is a safe place and I felt their lack of description at this decline of society makes the setting at Hogwarts confusing and without a reason.
The film's art direction is just morbid and appears like the film had budget cuts - it looked cheap and nasty. The photos used in this article were obviously taken with a High Def digital 35mm camera but the color grading of the film is so dark and miserable - it lacks 1/3 the sharpness and brightness that these pics have and I am responsible for the presentation at the cinema the film was viewed at and this cinema was operating in perfect parameters for the release of Harry. Harry Potter is about magic and this film lacked any of it. I get tingly after watching a Potter film and this one left me numb. The film lacks any sense of synergy and flow, I can see that all the scenes were filmed seperately and with the other films I believe I can do spells and fly on a broomstick.
The actors are great, although I have to say Rupert Gint and Daniel Radcliffe outshine Emma Watson. She is stunning now she has grown up but I don't buy her tears and laughs - they are so fake it annoyed me. I was disappointed there was so little Hagrid but was glad to have plenty of Snape time - I could seriously just watch Alan Rickman all day as this character. I also felt that having NO Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort in this one was another mistake.
The one scene, the one above with Dumbledore, is the one scene in the film where it moved forward and this epic moment hit the spot where the film should have been hitting from the very beginning.
I think they may have gone for a "calm before the storm" approach as I felt when reading this book all three times. This book to me was the biggest low point in the series as you know what's coming - wizard war - and you just want it to happen. But when reading the book multiple times I understood it more and it is so important to the storyline. This film representation of it disappointed me more than getting my $4500- tax bill two weeks ago Steve did not like it and Sam, who viewed it an hour before me, said I shouldn't even add it to my DVD collection when it's available.
Out now and worth $8-. I hope you get more out of it than I did. I am sorry Harry - I still love you so bring it hard core next time around and I will ignore this crap.
But I walked out of the cinema without squeals, without even crying once for Harry and the crew (I cry alot in films) but wanting to cry at how someone could let this utter trash be made in the name of what I consider the best film franchise ever made.
I need to blame someone to make myself feel better and I can't blame the director (although he is utterly responsible for it coming together) as he directed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which I consider the best film in the franchise. He is also direcitng the last two Harry Potters so I must maintain faith. The screenplay was written by Steve Kloves and my blame is going to him. He has written the screenplays for every Potter film excluding The Order of the Phoenix, that one was way more punchier, dark and incredibly sharp. I am blaming his decline in writing skills and considering that maybe he was so pissed off with not doing Phoenix that he sabotaged this one. I know - I am becoming mentally unstable after seeing this - I could not believe it possible to ruin a Harry Potter film.
I am sure 90% of you have read the books and let me ask you this.... with the ending in The Half Blood Prince being so pivotal to the entire franchise why would you change it so badly. They decided for NO action in the last sequence AT ALL but made up a scene out of thin air for a bit of minor pointless action in the middle of the film. This book is much shorter than some of the others. Phoenix was the largest book and they managed to adapt that one superbly, this one being shorter could have been done so much better. A lot of the book and Dumbledore's travels are missing - AWOL. They decided to ensure the things that happened at the school were placed in. Most of it the romances blossoming between all the leads. Ron had to get his first Quidditch match in there, but why was the playing field barren. Sure, I understand the decline of society with the doom of Death Eaters appearing everywhere but Hogwarts is a safe place and I felt their lack of description at this decline of society makes the setting at Hogwarts confusing and without a reason.
The film's art direction is just morbid and appears like the film had budget cuts - it looked cheap and nasty. The photos used in this article were obviously taken with a High Def digital 35mm camera but the color grading of the film is so dark and miserable - it lacks 1/3 the sharpness and brightness that these pics have and I am responsible for the presentation at the cinema the film was viewed at and this cinema was operating in perfect parameters for the release of Harry. Harry Potter is about magic and this film lacked any of it. I get tingly after watching a Potter film and this one left me numb. The film lacks any sense of synergy and flow, I can see that all the scenes were filmed seperately and with the other films I believe I can do spells and fly on a broomstick.
The actors are great, although I have to say Rupert Gint and Daniel Radcliffe outshine Emma Watson. She is stunning now she has grown up but I don't buy her tears and laughs - they are so fake it annoyed me. I was disappointed there was so little Hagrid but was glad to have plenty of Snape time - I could seriously just watch Alan Rickman all day as this character. I also felt that having NO Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort in this one was another mistake.
The one scene, the one above with Dumbledore, is the one scene in the film where it moved forward and this epic moment hit the spot where the film should have been hitting from the very beginning.
I think they may have gone for a "calm before the storm" approach as I felt when reading this book all three times. This book to me was the biggest low point in the series as you know what's coming - wizard war - and you just want it to happen. But when reading the book multiple times I understood it more and it is so important to the storyline. This film representation of it disappointed me more than getting my $4500- tax bill two weeks ago
Steve did not like it and Sam, who viewed it an hour before me, said I shouldn't even add it to my DVD collection when it's available.Out now and worth $8-. I hope you get more out of it than I did. I am sorry Harry - I still love you so bring it hard core next time around and I will ignore this crap.
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Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
I still have to watch it though...! I was going to go to IMAX for it...sigh! Maybe I should wait for the DVD release?!
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
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Total Randomness
Go and watch it in IMAX - you may get more out of it than I did. A lot of US critics are raving it's the best film in the series, I just don't see that at all.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
How disappointing for you, Jason. And that tax bill wasn't good either
Comment by K @ the Lair
Friends saw it last night and have said the same as yourself. Both found it left them flat. No core to this one. I was having a good day till now. K
Comment by fish
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Comment by Alain
Movie Addiction
Life Debate
Art Of Sampling
alain
Comment by Jason King
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There is good special effects but I feel it does not belong in the series - it just looks cheap and has nothing to be excited about.
Thanks for your comment
Comment by Jason King
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I was more shocked than you after seeing it - could not believe it possible to ruin the transfer to film for any Harry Potter films. There are some good bits in it but it's not the entire package like the other 5 films. Fingers crossed for 7 and 8.
Comment by Jason King
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I did love the 3rd movie but thought it started looking cheaper but the 4th and 5th were far better IMO.
Now this one is crazy stupid bad haha.
Comment by Jason King
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Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
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boxing sound
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Fun Places 2 Travel
God, I wish that the producer would make a better film for the next HP series. If not, I have no choice, but choose to boycott it.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I agree with your score too. Nice one!